President John F. Kennedy took part in the first presidential campaign televised. His opponent Nixon was the vice- president at the time, and seemed determine to win this election. Nixon was known for his debating skills and brought a lot of things to the table. Nixon talked about things such as: warning that the Democrats fiscal policies would boost inflation, and that only he had the necessary foreign policy experience to lead our nation. However surprising everyone including Vice president Nixon, JFK expressed concern for the people. He also expressed about the missile gap, and that the United states fell behind the soviets in weaponry.
Another big thing that affected Kennedy in a negative way, however he turned it into a positive, was his faith in the catholic church. The fact that the united states never had a catholic president gave people second thoughts about kennedy. But Kennedy didn't run from the topic, but instead brought it up in the debate. Kennedy simply stated " i believe in an America where the separation of the church and state is absolute, " he said, " where no Catholic prelate would tell the president, should he be a Catholic, how to act." With that statement Kennedy was very outgoing and relaxed. Where his opponent Nixon came off as formal and even stiff. At the end of the televised debate kennedy won the popular vote by 119,000 our of 68 million vote cast, and the Electoral college by 303 votes to 219. After winning the election he followed with the famous speech .
President John F. Kennedy took part in the first presidential campaign televised. His opponent Nixon was the vice- president at the time, and seemed determine to win this election. Nixon was known for his debating skills and brought a lot of things to the table. Nixon talked about things such as: warning that the Democrats fiscal policies would boost inflation, and that only he had the necessary foreign policy experience to lead our nation. However surprising everyone including Vice president Nixon, JFK expressed concern for the people. He also expressed about the missile gap, and that the United states fell behind the soviets in weaponry.
Another big thing that affected Kennedy in a negative way, however he turned it into a positive, was his faith in the catholic church. The fact that the united states never had a catholic president gave people second thoughts about kennedy. But Kennedy didn't run from the topic, but instead brought it up in the debate. Kennedy simply stated " i believe in an America where the separation of the church and state is absolute, " he said, " where no Catholic prelate would tell the president, should he be a Catholic, how to act." With that statement Kennedy was very outgoing and relaxed. Where his opponent Nixon came off as formal and even stiff. At the end of the televised debate kennedy won the popular vote by 119,000 our of 68 million vote cast, and the Electoral college by 303 votes to 219. After winning the election he followed with the famous speech .